Dragon River

He hadn’t thought this would happen to him. He was but an older boy. The gods did not approve of him, however. He was not the one they wanted, yet he was the one being offered. What talents and skills did a boy, not yet a man, have that could be of use to the gods? Nothing, as far as they were concerned.

They did not want him, but he was all they had. He was the one who would look over the river. The gods pitied those who would later come to depend on the river for water.

His brothers and sisters tied him up on the summer equinox and dragged him to the edge of the village. They let him go there, closing the village gates behind them before he could get back in.

“Do not leave me here!” cried the boy, pounding on the village gates until his fists were raw. “The gods will surely kill me! I am not worthy of them.”

His mother stood on top of the village gates and called down to her son, “Kai; do not let them intimidate you. Run for the valley, and they will not harm you. Remember, you have done us a great wrong! This is your only chance to give this village repentance. Go quickly before the gods turn their backs on us forever!”

He did not leave the gates, despite his mother’s goading. He was a coward; he could not leave. It was not fair to leave him like this. But the northern wind picked up, sending shivers down his spine. Kai knew he had to run then. He took off down the road that led to what was once his home, heading for the valley his mother told him about. The winds pulled at his clothes, trying to slow him down but he ran faster.

Finally he made it to the valley. He ran down the side for the middle, knowing that the gods were right behind him; they had yet to show themselves however. What cowards they were, Kai thought to himself bravely.

He found a heavy branch and picked it up, turning to face the gods. If they showed themselves, he would be ready. He would kill them all with the branch.

Seven gods appeared, one for each day of the week. One to worship, for every day that a human lived. The god that controlled the Holy day came forward. Its bright orange glow, like fire, scared Kai but he did not deter. He raised the branch, ready to strike the god down.

“This valley connects the Hajj Mountains and the Kudan Ocean,” said the god, ignoring Kai’s raised weapon. “In the rainy season this valley will flood to the brim and spill into your village. This is of your doing, and if you wish to be forgiven you must give us back our control. Become the river that flows through this valley and protect it. Keep it safe and guide the water. Refuse to grant this simple desire and we shall flood your village tonight. We shall kill every one of your neighbors and your family. Do what is asked of you, Kai.”

Kai didn’t know why what he’d done was so threatening to the gods. He hadn’t meant to insult them so.

But he could not afford to disobey them now. He would not shame his family and end it tonight. We would do what was expected of him.

“I will do it,” Kai declared firmly, dropping the branch and standing tall in front of the gods. “Tell me what I must do to save my village.”

A smaller god, one of greenish glow, indicated to the mountain side of the valley. “Run from there and to the ocean,” it explained. “Now.”

And so Kai ran. He ran all the way to the top of the valley and then ran down the slope towards the ocean. His sandals soon clacked against smooth rocks that he hadn’t known were native to the valley, but he picked up speed despite a fear of slipping. He could hear a sudden gush of water behind him, and so he sprinted faster.

Kai’s body soon began to glide and flow like the water, and he found himself leaning closer and closer to the ground until he was barely hovering over river rocks—rocks that had not existed until tonight. His sandals dropped into the water that soon engulfed him and he found that he was not touching the ground anymore, yet he was still moving slightly faster than the water.

His body lengthened and stretched out, tightening and forming new muscles. His eyes narrowed and he lost his human features as he plunged his now elongated body into the new river that was forming.

The next time Kai emerged, a roar reverberated from his throat and he flew high above the water, sharp eyes watching to ensure that the river would reach its intended destination, the ocean. He no longer remembered being human, for he was only the protector of the river; a dragon.

And now the river that flows from west to east from the Hajj Mountains to the Kudan Ocean is guarded by him. He controls the flow and patterns of the river. He is the spirit of the river.

He is what has been declared the Dragon River.

XX Hey, I really don’t plan on updating this anytime soon because I’m working on something else, but if you like let me know and I’ll try to update it every now and then! Thanks for reading and, as always, comments are appreciated! XX